Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[bikerchicky]

I have a question for any and all to respond to. My chicks, at home, are 4-5 weeks old. I want to start giving them greens like lettuce, broccoli, and grapes. At what age can you start introducing food other than chick feed, and how much is too much to give to them? What consequences can occur if they get too much other food?

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

I have a question for any and all to respond to. My chicks, at home, are 4-5 weeks old. I want to start giving them greens like lettuce, broccoli, and grapes. At what age can you start introducing food other than chick feed, and how much is too much to give to them? What consequences can occur if they get too much other food?

Provide chick grit first, the broccoli and lettuce they can pick pieces off themselves. The grape I would cut up into quarters or smaller. Try will try and swallow them whole.

 

[bikerchicky]

Provide chick grit first, the broccoli and lettuce they can pick pieces off themselves. The grape I would cut up into quarters or smaller. Try will try and swallow them whole.

They have access to grit at all times. I mix it into the chick feed and scatter some on the floor of the crate. Are they too young for fresh greens?

 

[LaughingFeather]

LF, do you know how to make starts of clems?

cuttings, half ripe wood in summer in vermiculite and perlite and mist.

 

[mikeyb]

Quote: That's Rascal, and yes the interest the chickens showed in the cover led to making it a cover for the dustbaths. Worked way better then I thought it would.

 

[mikeyb]

Wow, whatta great day. Weather was outstanding by afternoon.
Finished this day off with Polish soul food. Kabalsa and sourkraut over mashed potatoes and a cup of steaming hot fresh coffee to wash it all down.

 

[KMoran]

How is your incubating going?

So far so good. I candled on monday which was day 9 and I saw babies in some... I have a few that looked like they didnt even start and a few I wasnt sure....But my bator has stayed right on temp and humidity so fingers crossed we at lease get a few babies.

 

[LaughingFeather]

Got my incubator today. The HovaBator 1588. I've got a bunch of eggs coming from CA. Hope they make the trip well. Then we sit for a day, right? Then into the bator. Any first time warnings? You know, the OH MY GOODNESS, DON'T DO THIS.

 

[CarolynF]

VF - Again, another example of beautiful, handcrafted artistry. It's just lovely.

TPT - I'm so sorry to hear Elphaba isn't recovering. This is definitely the downside to chicken keeping.

CarolynF - Funny story about your would be chick snatching hawk!

I've been busy here - it's what theater people refer to as "hell week", the week before your show opens. Last minute costuming, sound, lights being set and tweaked, special effects being put into use to determine what works and what doesn't. And in this show there is a lot of special effects - I've never worked in a show where we have an FX person here each night just to do make up for bruising, bloodied faces, clothes, and even setting a fake ear each night for a particularly brutal scene. It's all interesting for me to watch as it comes together.

My sad news - I just culled my first chick. One of my four Ameraucana babies could just never stand. I thought maybe it was splay leg and taped her legs as instructed but she wasn't improving, could never eat or drink on her own and I was trying to hand feed her and give her water with an eye dropper several times a day. She was developing sores on her legs from dragging her body and hopping but she would frequently fall over backwards. I tried PT with her, but it seemed her legs and feet were starting to atrophy and she would never be able to survive on her own. A couple of hours ago I kissed her and said goodbye.

The good news is the other three chicks are thriving happily under their good first time broody Silkie moms. I need to go take some pics of them - they are one sweet little family.

I'm sooo sorry about the chick! I wouldn't know how to do that, and I don't know how I could make myself do it. But it's the right thing of course. So glad the other 3 are doing well. I love that you have a momma for them.

Good luck with hell week, get lots of sleep!

OMGosh. Up close and personal with a hawk. How did the chicks deal with it? You? Just a confirmation of how much we need to protect our babies.

Chicks went on alert for a few minutes, which was interesting. I was just in shock for a minute. I usually love having those particular doors open on a nice day, but I have to double think that now!

Oh No. So pretty. I think we need a start exchange. I also wish I could get my hands on some of that curly willow and weeping willow.

If you can root cuttings from a contorted hazel nut, I have one and I'm sure I can get a cutting or two.

I'm so doing a happy dance. I got my first Cream Legbar egg today

Congratulations!!! Was it tiny and super blue?

They have access to grit at all times. I mix it into the chick feed and scatter some on the floor of the crate. Are they too young for fresh greens?

They'll be fine if you leave it as Big Chunks or cut it up tiny. Think about how they tag along with their mamma and peck at anything they can. Mine are 4 weeks and really love tiny pieces of cantalope, they go absolutely bonkers for it!

 

[Sudsy Chick]

thank you for the link, turtlepowertrav!

And so sorry both you and SadieSue had to cull, so sad.